Chapter 110: To the Eastern Front (2)

Hmm

Marquis Bologna and his advisors became even more curious after hearing Viscount Sabians ambiguous words. However, since he said it was important to safeguard it, they couldnt continue to pressure him. But more than that, the two reasons that Viscount Sabian had told them beforewasenough for them to cooperate in this war.

Marquis Bologna couldnt hide his envy as he turned to look at Milton.

Marquis Forrest has a really talented advisor.

For Marquis Bologna, this was the greatest possible compliment he could give to a foreign operations advisor.

Thank you for acknowledging him.

As Milton responded with a happy smile, Marquis Bologna spoke.

Operation Attack Kobrook Republic. I think its perfectly doable. All of Eastern Front will cooperate with this plan.

And so, the Eastern Fronts counterattack was decided.

***

After the meeting with Marquis Bologna was over, Milton turned to speak to Viscount Sabian.

Youve worked hard. Thanks to your explanation, we were able to get their cooperation.

Even as an ally, it was quite difficult to intervene in plans created by the Eastern Commander. However, thanks to Viscount Sabians excellent strategy and eloquence, there was no need for Milton to win a battle of wills.

Viscount Sabian lowered his head at Miltons praise.

I only did what I should, My Lord.

Being able to do your job well is something praiseworthy in and of itself.

Milton smiled as he thought to himself.

I picked up a real treasure. That brat, the First Prince, who couldnt properly utilize him sure was stupid.

Milton had many talented people, but Jerome, who was in charge of the military, and Viscount Sabian, who was in charge of creating strategies, were two important pillars for Milton. However, even though Viscount Sabians intellect and strategic tactics were high, Milton wasnt a puppet who just listened to whatever Viscount Sabian said.

But My Lord, do we really need a third arrangement? Personally, I think it might be too reckless.

Milton shook his head in response.

The third arrangement will be necessary if we cant break through the Eastern Front and the frontline is pinned down. And werent you the one who came up with the plan itself?

Thats true, but

Viscount Sabian paused to think for a bit before continuing to talk.

That third arrangement is an insurance in case we cannot break through the Eastern Front. If were able to break through the Eastern Front, then wouldnt it just be pointless work, My Lord?

Then Sabian, you think we dont need that kind of insurance?

If Im being honest, yes, My Lord.

Viscount Sabian was confident that the Eastern Fronts attack would succeed.

He knew very well how infamous the Kobrook Republics defense was. Their defense was so great its said that even the Strabus Kingdom, which is said to be a military powerhouse, hasnt been able to penetrate the Kobrook Republics defense in more than a 100 years. But, the enemies were most likely tired from concentrating their forces on the Northern Front.

In a situation like this, Viscount Sabian believed that if Marquis Forrest joined forces with Marquis Bologna and led a large army of 90,000 troops, it would be enough strength to tilt the scales to one side.

Although it seemed like he was being too confident, Viscount Sabian believed in his strategic tactics and the strength of Leicester Kingdoms army that Milton had been diligently raising. Even after carefully calculating it multiple times, the probability of breaking through the Eastern Front was over 90 percent. However, Milton believed that the enemies on the Eastern Front could block their attack and asked Viscount Sabian to create a plan for that very moment. As a result, the third arrangement was created. Viscount Sabian only made the arrangement because his Lord told him to, but as the creator of the plan, he personally didnt see the necessity for it.

If we win the war on the Eastern Front, itllbe an unnecessaryinsurance

Milton laughed as if he knew Viscount Sabians feelings.

I dont think the Eastern Front attacks will go that smoothly.

So just what exactly is the reason for that, My Lord?

Viscount Sabian had asked for the reason multiple times, but Milton hadnt given him an answer. But now that its come to this, Sabian was determined to hear the reason.

Milton gave him a grim smile.

If we earnestly attacked, what is the probability of breaking through the Eastern Front?

I think at least 80 percent, My Lord.

Truthfully, Viscount Sabian calculated that it would be about 90 percent, but modestly shaved off 10 percent.

Right, I assume so. In that case, what if

What if, what, My Lord?

What if Siegfried personally appeared in the East?

Is the 80 percent still there?

That no, My Lord.

Milton had shared all the information he had collected on Siegfried with Viscount Sabian, who was a part of his advisors. So naturally, Viscount Sabian knew very well how monstrous Siegfried was.

If Siegfried joins this battleour odds will go down quite a bit. I dont know how many soldiers he would bring, but our odds may fall to 50 percent or less, My Lord.

Viscount Sabian had coldly analyzed the situation.

But My Lord, I dont think theres any chance that Siegfried would abandon the main battlefield, Northern Front, to appear in the East.

No, hell definitely appear.

When Milton confidently refuted him, Viscount Sabian thought Milton had new information that he didnt know.

Is there a reason for you to believe that?

That reason is

Milton hesitated before continuing to speak.

For now, lets just say its a gut feeling.

My Lord

Just a gut feeling? From Viscount Sabians point of view, no other answer could be as bleak as that. However, Milton was confident.

But really, he really might come. So keep that in mine and get ready for it. You probably have all the information on him in your head?

Viscount Sabian still wasnt confident, but when his Lord gave him his order, there was only one thing he could do.

Very well, My Lord. Ill plan an operation with that possibility in mind.

Thank you.

After giving instruction to Viscount Sabian, Milton thought to himself.

He will appear

Although Milton hadnt said it, there was a reason beyond just his intuition.

Because Ill be here.

He hadnt been able to say it out loud because it felt like he was overestimating himself, but, it wasnt just a gut feeling, it was a certainty. Milton was certain that he and Siegfried would meet in this war.

***

Far from the battlefields in the Northern Front of the Lester Kingdom.

In an impenetrable location where Duke Palan was at, two knights received secret orders.

You said there were orders from our Lord, Tommy?

Yea, we have to carry them out in secret. And Ive gotten permission from thatdevi I mean, our Master.

What? So then, we can go to the battlefield and avoid the devils Our Masters influence?

Thats right. Finally

Ugh Finally

I can finally escape from that demon.

I can finally escape from that demon.

Looking like they were about to cry, Rick and Tommy both thought the same thing. In order to understand the reason why these two were thinking like this, its necessary to understand the situation in the Lester Kingdoms Northern Front.

Duke Palan had left the Northern Front after receiving two orders. One order was obviously to defend the border and the other was to train the younger knights. Once he had received these two orders from Queen Leila, Duke Palan had decided to do his best to carry out the orders.

However, unless it was wartime, there wasn't much that he had to do personally in order to defend the border. Strengthening fortresses, deploying border patrols, and training the regular soldiers; all of these could be done more competently by the staff and the knights under Duke Palans command.

Naturally, Duke Palan was able to concentrate on bullying, aka training, the younger knights. Numerous young knights, including Rick and Tommy, had been sent by the nobles of Lester Kingdom to join the Northern Border knights. Because it was a great honor for the knights to train under Duke Palan, who had reached the level of Master, many knights had applied. They soon regretted applying.

This was Duke Palan's thought process: Why were the standards of Lester Kingdoms knights so low while the officers of both Strabus Kingdom and the Republics were strong?

The difference is in practical experience.

Knights who fiercely train by fighting in actual battles versus knights who placidly practiced their swordsmanship like a flower grown in a greenhouse. It was natural there would be a difference. Even if he had to become a devil to do so, Duke Palan was determined to get rid of the stigma that the Lester Kingdoms knights were of low standards because of their indolence.

Either get stronger or die. Choose one of the two choices.

Those words that Duke Palan said werent just pretense or empty words. Duke Palan only trained the younger knights after he had gotten a written oath that it was alright if they died during training.

The training itself wasnt anything special. Except for basic training, Duke Palan had made the younger knights fight against him. In other words, in order to take the place of fighting in actual battles, he decided to fight and continuously beat the younger knights. He beat them just until the brink of death again and again. If they died while training, then it cant be helped. Having made up his mind, Duke Palan ruthlessly crushed the younger knights.

In the eyes of the viewers, that wasnt training but training under the guise of a brutal assault.

Kughhh!

Ack! Bone my bones

Wait wait a minute gah!

During training, there wasnt a day where no one was injured. But, Duke Palan didnt slow down or make it any easier for them. He planned to continue to crush them until these delicate young knights became as resilient as weeds. It bears repeating, but Duke Palans two choices were to either get stronger or die. Some of them ran away while others with bigger guts directly rebelled against him. But Duke Palan didnt blink an eye and continued to step on them all equally. He thrashed them again and again.

Do you think its unfair? If you think its unfair, then get stronger. I will even accept it if you said youd get stronger and cut off my head in revenge.

This training gave the Northern Knights a new understanding of the duke, Duke Sean Palan = the Devil. The really annoying thing was that this training method actually worked. Within one year of training as the Northern Knights, 11 of them managed to reach the Expert level. Truthfully, all the knights who had reached that level had already the best of the batch. However, even taking that into consideration, the training clearly had some effect.

With these results, Duke Palan spurred them on even more. He now had the justification to say:See, look at that. Wasnt I right?With these results, he planned to be even harsher because itll be fine. In fact, thirty people had already been eliminated, but Duke Palan didnt remember that. Instead, he pushed the younger knights even more.

Get stronger! If youre not going to get stronger, then die! Its all the same whether you die on the battlefield or you die right here! What more is thereto life?

And so, Duke Palan forcefully raised the level of the knights, and Rick and Tommy managed to survive and be tempered by this hellish training.

Roughly six months ago, the two of them had reached the level of Expert.

Seeing their swords aura, they teared up from happiness.

Sniff now we can go home.

This this really was like living in XX hell.

Even though they were happy to become an Expert, they felt even happier that they were not free from the Devil. And so, the two of them planned to return back to the South. But

Rick, Tommy. The two of you cant return yet.

They were trapped by Duke Palans words.

Sir?

Sir?

They both felt like they'd been hit with a lightning bolt when the sky was clear.

I dont think the two of you reached your limits yet. Dont worry. Ill definitely train you so you can reach your limits.

In fact, this was Duke Palans thought.

I cant let these two return just like this. MarquisForresthas done so much for the country, how can I let these two return like this?

For Duke Palan, Rick and Tommy were special. How could he return the two young men that Milton Forrest had entrusted to him when they were only Experts? Duke Palan felt an unnecessary sense of responsibility towards the two and felt they should be at least an Intermediate. As a result, Rick and Tommy had to go through even more intense training. Now, the two of them didnt care about being Experts or whatever, they just wanted to get away from the Devil - Duke Palan - himself.

Just as they couldnt stand it any longer, Milton sent an order to them.

An order from our Lord? Truly?

Thats right. A messenger secretly delivered it.

At Tommys reply, Rick gave a grin big enough to show all his teeth.

Then, should we hurry to join them on the battlefield?

Rick was so excited he wanted to run to Milton immediately. With his newly improved skills, in Ricks heart beat a knights romantic notion of fighting in the war with his Master and making a big contribution to the fight. But

Wait a minute, this

Tommys face gradually turned white as he read Miltons orders.

Hey, whats wrong? Did something happen to him?

No, but something might happen to us.

What?

According to our order

Tommy explained Miltons orders to Rick.

Having listened to the explanation, Ricks face expressed the absurdity of the situation.

Youre sure our Master sent that order?

Yeah, Im sure.

An order should feel like an order. How is that an order

According to our Master, we should rip out the page that defines the word impossible in the dictionary. Then, well be able to do it.

What kind of crazy bastard would do that?

To Rick, Napoleon became a crazy bastard.

How would I know? Damn it

Even Tommy, who was always calm, swore in the end.

The order that had been given to the two of them was absurd.

Damn it, think about this carefully. Its possible that a Republican spy wrote a fake order to trap us. Please, please tell me thats what happened. Please!

Its our Lords handwriting.

But a handwriting can be forged, right?

Theres also a seal on the letter.

And I also knew the messenger who delivered the order.

XX.

All of a sudden, Rick and Tommy wanted to give everything up and return back to their hometown and farm.

***

Hm? Whos cussing me out?

Maybe it was a coincidence, but far away, Miltons ear became itchy all of a sudden.